She then went over to the bathroom to wash herself up and get ready for the day. Meanwhile, Matt had already been awake when Layla rolled out of bed and was busy staring at the ceiling.
He could've done something… But he didn't… Why? He ain't a scumbag and it was probably nerve-wracking to do something like that to her after she had just fought off some mysterious creature…
What the hell was he thinking?! Matt shot upright in frustration, much to the shock of Layla.
"Something wrong? Didn't you sleep well? Or are you not used to sleeping with girls," teased Layla as she sat on the chair by the table.
"Shut it, you were the one who was so embarrassed last night," retorted Matt as he leaped off the bed and headed toward the bathroom.
After a few Tocks passed, Layla beckoned Matt to sit on the bed.
"About last night… I couldn't tell you more about the creature because I was so tired. But now that I'm at full strength, I need you to know that I can't stay here. I completely forgot about that part…" explained Layla, looking quite worried and anxious.
"I know you can't stay here, the Felidae nor Loplins like the Dragoons anywhere around them…"
"No. The creature that was after me is the Familiar of Tiamat. I don't have the Goddess Crest on me like what the Royal Guard has."
"I don't get it. So that would mean that Tiamat has awakened?"
"There's a difference between sealed off and being dead. The seal was strong enough to hold her physical being but not powerful enough to cease her mental grasp," explained Layla as her eyes and tone darkened.
"Mental grasp?"
"Tiamat was also known as the Mother of Creation. Her Familiars are usually serpent-like and are weak against melee attacks. They exact Tiamat's orders to keep hunting us down so that's why we have something called the Goddess Crest."
"A protection spell against Tiamat's creatures?"
"Not exactly. A protection spell uses too much Elemental Energy to be working around the clock so our ancestors came up with a repellent spell instead. Within the capital of Valokia, there's a huge monument of a star."
"That star isn't there for fun; it powers the repellent spell that we have that covers the whole kingdom… It also doubles as a huge Elemental Energy tank that the Operative to Alpha ranks would replenish after each mission," elaborated Layla as she conjured up a replica of the star.
"So is that why the Dragoons other than the Royal Guard haven't left the kingdom before?"
Layla halted as she glanced at Matt and quickly stood up, much to his confusion.
"I'm free…" murmured Layla as her mouth's sides curved upward.
"What?" asked a very shaky and worried Loplin.
"I'm saying that I am free. I am not bound by the Royal Guard nor am I under the mercy of the Star… Though I'm now a beacon to Tiamat's pets, I have free use of my powers now…"
"And what does it exactly mean? Because I have half a mind to summon my gun in self-defense… And I'm warning you because I don't wish to kill or hurt you," questioned the rabbit as he backed away from the smiling Dragoon.
"It means that I can freely use my Elemental Energy without limits. The star also acts as a cap for the citizens of Valokia so that we won't decimate the area with our training or squabbles."
"Now that I'm out and no longer bound, I can perform better… As evidenced from last night. No wonder I felt so much Elemental Energy flowing out of me when I used my powers," said Layla, looking at her palms.
The Loplin wasted no time as he hopped towards Layla and grasped her opened palms to close them.
"That could be the added reason why the creature attacked in the first place. Similar to Valokia, the Felidaes have also set up a repellent-like spell. However, theirs is a barrier spell and it takes two things to make it work.
"To be under the protection of their barrier spell, you must have their 'paw print' and be within the kingdom."
"But it still doesn't explain-"
"The limiters are there for a reason, not just to keep the population disciplined. Hostile creatures may usually prey on weak ones to feast upon but if a being with strong Elemental Energy output is around the corner then it's like a buffet for them."
"They are and have always been drawn to high amounts of Elemental Energy so now you are like a beacon to them. Not to mention that if you keep doing that, you are gonna get tired very easily," said Matt as he placed another hand on the confused Dragoon's head.